Lake Welch Beach
Stony Point, New York · on Lake Welch · Harriman State Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10 per vehicle
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Lake Welch Beach
Lake Welch Beach is an official, developed swimming beach on 216-acre Lake Welch inside Harriman State Park (Palisades Interstate Park system) in Rockland/Orange Counties, NY. One of the park's two designated public swimming beaches, it was reportedly the largest beach in the Palisades Region, drawing nearly half a million visitors in 2020, so think busy regional lake to swim in rather than quiet swimming hole.
The beach sits on a reservoir created in 1942 when the Civilian Conservation Corps dammed Beaver Pond within the wooded, hilly terrain of Harriman State Park; the lake's formation submerged the former settlement of Sandyfield.
Swimming at Lake Welch Beach
This is a large, developed lake swim area with a half-mile stretch of sand beach, open for swimming only during the posted summer beach hours (roughly 9-10am to 6-7pm seasonally). It suits families and casual day-trip swimmers rather than backcountry or wild-swimming visitors; no information on lifeguard staffing was found in official sources reviewed.
How to get to this swimming hole
Address is 800 Kanawauke Road, Stony Point, NY 10980. Per Wikipedia, the beach is reached via Exit 16 on the Palisades Interstate Parkway, using the seasonal Lake Welch Drive or County Route 106.
Parking: Large on-site lot cited by Wikipedia at about 2,500 spaces.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- Under 2 minutes on foot from parking to sand.
Drive-up beach: the roughly 2,500-space parking lot sits directly against the half-mile sand beach, so no trail is needed to reach the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Half-mile sand beach with gradual lake entry is well-suited to families, and NY State Parks' general policy restricts swimming to designated areas 'only when a lifeguard is present,' which the posted seasonal swim-hours window (as opposed to all-day access) implies applies here too. However, no source found during this pass confirms lifeguard staffing specifically at Lake Welch Beach, and the lake also hosts a gated boat launch (canoes/kayaks/sailboats) about 1/10 mile from the beach entrance, so boat traffic is a nearby consideration.
Parking
Paid, $10 per vehicle/day (Memorial Day Weekend-Labor Day Weekend); $80 Empire Pass gives unlimited day-use entry instead
Large on-site lot, cited by Wikipedia at roughly 2,500 spaces, directly adjacent to the beach.
Restrooms
Yes
Showers and restrooms operate during the summer swim season (per official facilities list); in fall/winter (Oct-Apr) running water is shut off and only a porta-john is available, with the site limited to picnicking use.
Hours
2026 posted swim-beach hours (6/22/26-9/7/26): weekdays 10:00am-5:45pm, weekends/holidays 9:00am-6:45pm. Park gate hours in summer: Mon-Fri 8:00am-8:00pm, Sat/Sun/holidays 7:00am-8:00pm; fall/winter gate hours reduce to 8:00am-4:00pm with limited services and no beach access.
On the water
Restrictions: Per the official 2026 PIPC Boating brochure: a $35 PIPC Boat Permit is required to operate any boat/kayak/canoe/SUP on Lake Welch, including craft rented from outside the park. Vehicle access to the gated Lake Welch boat launch also requires a separate $20 Tiorati/Welch key (sold at Tiorati Circle). Gas-powered engines, jet skis, and windsurfers are prohibited; registered electric trolling motors are allowed. Boating hours are 5am-10pm. Life jackets are mandatory for all boat occupants aged 12 and under at all times, for all SUP users regardless of age, and for everyone Nov 1-May 1. Swimming from boats is prohibited, and boats may not dock on the beach/shoreline.
Boat launch is at Route 106, about 1/10 mile east of the Lake Welch beach entrance; boat trailers are permitted at this launch (one of only two in the park, along with Lake Kanawauke, that allow trailers).
Rentals nearby
Boat rentals (rowboats historically offered on Hessian Lake at Bear Mountain); exact current fleet not published online
Bear Mountain State Park, roughly 10 miles from Lake Welch Beach; contact Guest Services at the Bear Mountain Inn, 845-786-2731 ext. 1000, for current fees and hours
Backstory
Lake Welch is a 216-acre reservoir created in 1942 by Civilian Conservation Corps workers damming Beaver Pond. It was named for William A. Welch, first chairman of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Building the lake required flooding Sandyfield, a settlement of roughly 30 houses whose residents were ordered to evacuate by 1939. Each winter the lake is drawn down about 20 feet to help restore sand lost to erosion.
Lake Welch Beach: FAQ
Does Lake Welch Beach charge a fee?
$10 per vehicle per day during the summer season (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend); an $80 annual Empire Pass gives unlimited day-use entry. Off-season visits (fall/winter) are picnicking-only.
Is Lake Welch Beach kid friendly?
Half-mile sand beach with gradual lake entry is well-suited to families, and NY State Parks' general policy restricts swimming to designated areas 'only when a lifeguard is present,' which the posted seasonal swim-hours window (as opposed to all-day access) implies applies here too. However, no source found during this pass confirms lifeguard staffing specifically at Lake Welch Beach, and the lake also hosts a gated boat launch (canoes/kayaks/sailboats) about 1/10 mile from the beach entrance, so boat traffic is a nearby consideration.
Do I need to hike to reach Lake Welch Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lake Welch Beach?
Large on-site lot, cited by Wikipedia at roughly 2,500 spaces, directly adjacent to the beach.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Welch Beach?
Boat launch is at Route 106, about 1/10 mile east of the Lake Welch beach entrance; boat trailers are permitted at this launch (one of only two in the park, along with Lake Kanawauke, that allow trailers).
When is the best time to visit Lake Welch Beach?
Summer, per the official posted swim schedule (approximately late June through the week after Labor Day); fall/winter access is for picnicking only, with running water shut off October through April.
What are the rules at Lake Welch Beach?
Alcohol is not permitted. Pets are banned at the beach area between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Swimming is only available during posted beach hours in summer; in fall and winter there is no running water and only a porta-john, with picnicking-only use.
What water body is Lake Welch Beach on?
Lake Welch Beach is on Lake Welch, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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